If we were to actually bring Holden back to Australia as a local company, where would we even start? Looking for leads and advice.
G’day everyone.
Like most of you, I’m still not over 2017. Watching the Lion die and then seeing the Commodore name get slapped on those ZB imports was a total insult. I’ve been sitting here with my laptop and a ton of ambition, and I’ve started a project called Zeta Engineering Group to see if we can actually fix this.
The goal is a ground-up revival. A proper, rear-wheel-drive petrol sedan built here in Australia. I know, it sounds like a pipe dream and the costs are mental. But I’m trying to move past the "what if" stage and actually look at the feasibility.
I'm mainly posting because I need to tap into the knowledge in this sub. I’m not after money—I’m after your brains and your experience.
I'm mostly looking for help with a few things:
If you actually worked at the plants in Elizabeth or Fishermans Bend or if you’re just a gun mechanic who knows these cars inside and out, I want to know what you think a modern "VF Successor" should actually be. What was the soul of those cars that we can't afford to lose?
I’m also trying to figure out how to crack the corporate wall at General Motors. They’re sitting on the trademark and the history, and they’re stubborn as hell. If anyone here has experience dealing with big American companies or knows how you even start a dialogue about buying a brand back without getting laughed out of the room, I’m all ears.
Also, just for the fans, what would it actually take for you to buy an Aussie-made car again? Not a rebadged SUV, but a proper sedan. What are the "must-haves" for you to trust the name again?
And lastly, if anyone knows about the boring stuff (ADRs, safety compliance, the legal hurdles of starting a car company from scratch) I’d love to chat.
I’m keeping things a bit "stealth" for now because I don't want the plan getting messed with before it's even off the ground, but I’m serious about this. If you’ve got any tips, leads, or just want to tell me I’m dreaming, drop a comment or shoot me a DM.
Cheers.